We begin where Roan is comfortable, often on his side. I make contact by tapping or squeezing his limbs to stimulate his awareness of these parts, and then gently guiding him into movement. At the moment we are exploring rolling from side to back to side, and sometimes onto the belly.

At times I lead, and then times I feel his impulse to move and support that movement, or give him space. The sessions are a constant game of listening, giving some input, feeling the play between us and then giving him space.   Once this connection is made and good support and contact is established, Roan's breathing often signals that he is feeling more support and his nervous system quietens down. These signs are a good indicator that places where he often struggles are letting go.

Since we began working, Roan’s limbs - especially his arms - are moving in a greater range and seem less stiff. Roan can now roll slowly and with support from side to side. His smile as he does this is just wonderful to see.
 

Julia is finding her feet

Julia, who is 78 years old, was recommended by a friend from her 5 Rhythms Dance classes to try out Feldenkrais.  The pain and discomfort in her feet and legs was worsening. She is a retired head teacher who has led a very active life including walking and climbing, and now dancing and gardening.  She had an operation on both feet a few years ago to help straighten out her toes which were increasingly overlapping, curling under and painful. This was possibly related to a climbing accident on ice a number of years previously.  The operation had helped to straighten out her toes to a certain extent. But she was finding it increasingly difficult walking on hilly terrain and was experiencing numbness, cramps and lack of sensation in her calves feet and ankles.  

After the first few individual sessions Julia reported that she felt more limber, and that the cramps in her lower legs were gone.  She was learning how to move her legs with a clear initiation and awareness of her pelvis. After the third session Julia commented that she sensed her feet were warmer and she could actually “feel” them.  She then began to attend weekly Awareness Through Movement group classes alongside her fortnightly 1:1 sessions.

She began to feel much more positive in herself and commented that the emotional connection with the work felt different to anything she had done before.  She left the sessions with a greater feeling of well being. She was very committed to her improvement and would always work with any homework given. Her son commented that she was walking better, and after one session she said “I’ve got a back!”  As the lessons progressed the sensations in her feet were becoming ever more tangible.

Julia most recently attended a challenging Feldenkrais into Dance improvisation workshop, which she thoroughly enjoyed.  She feels that the sessions may well be helping her arthritis, and that holding her feet and toes for the first time in years felt amazing. “Your sessions are making this old lady feel things are possible again”, she said,   “I’m feeling young again”.

Caroline came to Feldenkrais from a background in dance, in which she taught in a variety of settings.  She now has a thriving practice in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire and has a particular passion for working with children with disabilities.

News from the UK Feldenkrais Community
 

Classes and Workshops

Take a look at the Guild website to find a teacher or a class.  For a list of Feldenkrais workshops taking place  in the UK in the next month:

South West of England
• Saturday, 14 July 2018, 10am - 12.30pm
Iraina Clarke: Pilates & free your hips/lower back- Feldenkrais
Bristol Zen Dojo, Gloucester Road, Bristol; www.feldenkraisforyou.co.uk

East of England
• Sunday, 22 July 2018, 2 - 6 pm
Yeu-Meng Chan: Body Mindfulness through the Feldenkrais Method
Quaker Meeting House, Leigh on Sea, SS9 1NB; web link to workshop

Central England
• Sunday, 8 July 2018, 1pm - 4.30pm
Joy Morris : Pelvic Power; thejoyofmovement.co.uk/event
Cumnor Old School,Cumnor, Oxford OX2 9PE
 

North of England
• Saturday, 21 July 2018
Anne Robertson: Better Balance; annerobbo@talktalk.net
Bodywise, Manchester Buddhist Centre,Turner St M4 1DZ

Scotland
• Saturday, 14 July 2018, 10am - 1pm
Adele Long: Move with your WHOLE spine
Inverness, IV2 4SF; adele@phonecoop.coop

London
• Wednesday, 11 July 2018, 10.15 am - 5.15 pm
Victoria Worsley: Feldenkrais: Mobiise the Spine
The City Lit, Keely Street WC2; www.feldenkraisworks.co.uk

• Saturday, 21 July 2018, 1.30pm - 4.30pm
Lou Coleman: More Connectivity: Eye & Pelvis; loucoleman.org
Yoga Point 122 Dalberg Road, London SW2 1AP

• Saturday, 28 July 2018, 10.30am - 4.30pm
Sophie Arditti: Relieving Repetitive Strain - Free Your Hands, Arms & Neck
West London Buddhist Centre, 45a Porchester Road W2 5DP; www.feldenkraisplace.co.uk
 

South East England
• Saturday, 14 July 2018, 10 am - 1 pm
Sabine Schmid Blackaby: Expanding our movement repertoire
St Peters Church Hall, Bearsted (Kent); www.feldenkraisbrighton.co.uk

• Sunday, 22 July 2018, 11am - 4.30pm
Melinda Glenister: Hipjoints & Hamstrings; www.melindaglenister.com
Berkhamsted Town Hall, 196 High Street, Berkhamsted, HP4 3AP


Training to be a Feldenkrais Practitioner in the UK:

The Feldenkrais International Training Centre (FITC) has just announced details of next professional Feldenkrais training beginning in 2019.  click here for further information.  

  
Feldenkrais Guild (UK) AGM and ‘Big Weekend’ 2018
 
Come and join us in Manchester this year on Saturday 22nd, and Sunday 23rd of September.  As well as the AGM, we are delighted to have practitioners Veronica Rock and Joan Winter teaching on the Saturday afternoon.  Ruthy Alon, one of Feldenkrais’s first teachers, will then be teaching all day on the Sunday.  

Venue: The Mechanics Centre, 103 Princess Street, Manchester M1 6DD
Booking: Jackie Adkins - email: info@movetolive.co.uk.  Please note booking for Ruthy's workshop will only be open to non-Guild members from the end of August onwards.

Ruthy Alon will also be teaching from 13th to 18th July 2018, in London - click here for more details.